“Investor education is very important to SM and we do our part by going around the country to share the long-term growth plans of the group. Historically, foreign investors dominated our minority investor base who gained immensely from the strong share price performance of SM and its listed subsidiaries. We want to encourage more local investors to likewise gain from the business acumen of the Sy family,” Cora Guidote, SM Senior Vice President for Investor Relations said.

Since listing in the stock market in 2005, market capitalization grew over 19% per annum to PHP819.1 billion as of end-August from PHP127.2 billion in 2005, reflecting the support of investors, particularly those of foreign institutional funds over the last 11 years.

A PHP10,000 investment bought during IPO would be worth over PHP50,000 if sold as of August 2016, notwithstanding cash dividends declared during those years.

SM has earmarked between PHP70 to PHP80 billion every year in an aggressive expansion bid in the Philippines, fueled by the local economy’s strong momentum. Supporting this capital commitment, SM posted an 11% growth in consolidated net income of PHP15 billion in the first six months of the year.

To further reach out to investors representing a broader spectrum of the capital markets, SM is teaming up with the Fund Managers Association of the Philippines (FMAP) through an investor briefing on September 23, 2016 at the Conrad Manila. FMAP represents local equity and fixed income fund managers which include the asset management units of the country’s largest banks and insurance companies. SM continues to engage with investors, both equity and fixed income, who have interest in the Philippines, given that SM is widely considered by the investment community as an ideal proxy for investing in the country.